New graphics driver also supports the new Intel Core M chip with Intel HD 5300 graphics

In a week that saw a whirlwind of product announcements, including the arrival of the first processors based on the chipmaker’s Broadwell architecture, Intel released a major graphics driver update for 4th generation Intel Core processors. The new driver, the release of which went almost unnoticed, is significant not only because of the up to 30 percent improvement in performance that it is supposed to deliver to those rocking Haswell chips, but also because it is also the first to support the new Intel Core M processor with Intel HD graphics 5300.

Rumors of GTA V's cancellation on PC have been greatly exaggerated (or so we hope)

Given how long Rockstar Games has been dragging its feet in porting Grand Theft Auto V over to PC, it would have been easy to believe the rumor that it's been cancelled, shelved, axed, dismissed with prejudice, etc. However, don't you believe it. Not only was the rumor a bit dubious to begin with, but Rockstar put most doubt to rest by reiterating that it still plans to bring GTA V to PC.

Microsoft must issue a written statement to China within 20 days

Around the same time China banned Windows 8 from government use over concerns that there could be built-in spying mechanisms, authorities also began investigating Microsoft for antitrust violations. The latest in China's antitrust probe over Microsoft's business practices has the State Administration for Industry and Commerce giving the Redmond outfit 20 days to issue a written explanation. What for, you ask?

Advertisers can buy sponsored tiles in Firefox's new tab page

Mozilla is in search of a new revenue stream for its Firefox browser, and one proposed solution is to sell sponsored tiles that would appear on a new tab page. More than just a concept at this point, Mozilla is actively experimenting with sponsored tiles, which now appear in the newest Firefox Nightly build. These are test builds of the popular browser that contain new features and enhancements that may or may not advance into later builds, including a stable release.

Letting go is hard to do

Diehard Windows XP fans are having a hard time bidding the legacy operating system farewll -- by the numbers, it's estimated that some 15 percent (StatCounter) to just under 25 percent (Net Applications) of desktops are still running Windows XP. Save for businesses that pay a fee, Microsoft killed off support for Windows XP back in April, though one developer is determined to keep it alive with a new (and unofficial) Service Pack.

Goodbye beta, hello stable!

Following successful runs in Google's Dev, Beta, and Canary channels, the 64-bit version of Google's Chrome browser for Windows is now available as a stable release (Chrome 37). That means you can have all the benefits of the 64-bit version without the risks of instability that come from running pre-release software. According to Google, 64-bit Chrome offers a bunch of benefits for speed, stability, and security.

Rock out with your Windows Phone out, for free!

Sometimes the Windows Phone platform gets forgotten or otherwise overlooked by developers. Such has been the case with Spotify, which has been serving up free tunes to Android and iOS users for some time now, but hadn't extended the same courtesy to Windows Phone. Well, that changes today -- Spotify has finally brought the free mobile music experience to Windows Phone users around the globe.

Would you like a slice of Lemon Meringue Pie with your KitKat?

Fact: Bears eat beets. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Gallactica. Another fact -- every version of Android since v1.5 has been named after a sweet dessert, in alphabetical order (Cupcake, Doughnut, Eclair, and so forth). As it stands, the next version of Android is currently codenamed L, and we can think of a bunch of desserts that start with that letter. However, there's evidence to suggest that Google with run with Lemon Meringue Pie for Android L.

China's own operating system could be ready by October

After banning Microsoft's Windows 8 software for use on government PCs, China is now reportedly planning to cook up its own operating system. The home brewed OS could see a launch as early as October, and it would have the full backing of the Chinese government. China's motivation in building an OS of its own is to alleviate concerns that imported software from the likes of Microsoft, Google, and Apple could have spying mechanisms built into the code base.

Powered by an Intel Celeron 2957U processor

The netbook revolution was, at the time of it inception, an all-Linux affair, with there being plenty of talk of Linux finally emerging as a serious alternative to Windows in the eyes of mainstream PC users. However, all such talk quickly disappeared when the first Windows-running devices invaded the segment and made it their own in no time at all. Tablets may have derailed the netbook bandwagon, but Linux has managed to claw its way back into contention in the laptop segment with Google Chromebooks. Now, if the search engine giant has its way, its Linux-based cloud OS could end up replicating that same success in the desktop category as well.